OUR VIEW:

Murfreesboro firefighter Bill Durkin deserves credit for launching a petition drive for a referendum to ask voters if they want to move the city's elections from April to November starting in 2016.

Many candidates have campaigned in favor of moving the election date to save the city money to a county funded August or November election when voter turn out is much stronger for presidential or gubernatorial elections. So far, Council members Eddie Smotherman, Madelyn Scales Harris and Toby Gilley side with moving the election date, but the majority prefers to keep the independent April election to avoid being on a ballot with partisan county, state and federal elections. The council and the City School Board are elected as independents.

Durkin must collect signatures from 15 percent of the city's registered voters, which is more than 9,600, to require a referendum possibly by the Aug. 7 general election. Rather than see the council and candidates continue to debate this issue, let the voters decide in a referendum.

Nonprofit puts school in spotlight

Thanks to Carpe Artista and Actors Point Theater Company for thinking outside the box when it came time to prepare a recent production of "A Christmas Carol." They turned to Redeemer Classical Academy, a newly formed private school, for members of the cast and space. Not only that, they set the production in a 1930s-era junkyard.

About a half-dozen students at Redeemer Classical performed musical interludes between acts. Not only did this arrangement help raise awareness for the arts-based organizations, it also gave Redeemer Classical Academy some time in the spotlight. We hope similar partnerships between nonprofits and area schools continue to grow.

Education Day a success

Thank you to the MTSU Athletics Department and Murfreesboro City Schools for coordinating the second-annual Education Day during the MTSU women's basketball game against Kennesaw State on Thursday.

The announced attendance of 10,028 people was the the fourth-largest crowd in program history and was also likely the first Division I basketball game for many of the students in attendance.

The children screamed, cheered and participated in educational activities throughout the game.

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OUR VIEW:

Murfreesboro firefighter Bill Durkin deserves credit for launching a petition drive for a referendum to ask voters if they want to move the city's elections from April to November starting in 2016.